Reading Boss Reacts As Ex-Liverpool Defender Ilori Is Linked With Return To Sporting Lisbon

Portuguese Primeira Liga side Sporting Lisbon are looking to sign Reading defender of Nigerian descent Tiago Ilori in the winter transfer market.

Ilori came through the ranks at the Green and Whites, spending seven years at the club before sealing a celebrated move to Liverpool, where things did not work out for him.

Speaking after Reading's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Championship on Saturday, manager José Manuel Gomes has insisted that Ilori is not bothered by speculation linking him with a return to Sporting Lisbon.

''I don't know if it's a rumour or if it's true,'' he told reporters post match.

"It's completely normal that one club wants a good player in the January market.

"What I saw today [Saturday] and felt during the week is that Tiago Ilori is completely focused on the team. The other things, I don't know.''

Gomes added : ''Maybe it's a normal situation that big clubs ask for important players.

"If we have good players, when the market is open we can understand that some clubs want good players.

"For sure a lot of other players we have working with us can have proposals from other clubs, we don't know. I consider it normal''.

Ilori, 25, made 14 first-team appearances for Sporting CP before moving to Anfield in September 2013.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : readingfc.co.uk